Secret Compartment Area Under Stairs

I've got a small, but fun, project to make a hidden compartment under the lower portion of a set of stairs. I'd love a creative suggestion or two and maybe even a tip on hardware choice.

I'd like to create a false panel (in the shape of the available, formerly drywall panel) that attaches to a "drawer" that fits inside the hole, see the attached photo. The drawer is really a tray/shelf on glides with a vertical side on the tall side and flat bottom - maybe a very shallow drawer. The entire space is just under 3' deep and the sliding shelf should be as deep as possible.

I'd also like to be able to "push" the panel and have the whole unit come out to reveal the access.

Any suggestions on hardware or even techniques? The goal is to make is a secret area so putting a door and using glides on the tray area would reveal too much.

I could remove and relocate the studs supporting the stairs, but the spacing is actually quite good.

(post #101074, reply #1 of 32)

But seriously, one thing you can do is make your drawer and use whatever slide is readily available. Just install the slide so when the drawer is mounted, the drawer front will extend beyond the actual drawer (don't know how to exactly explain what I'm saying here other than make it just as you would any drawer, except the front of the drawer is triangular insetad of rectangular).

I can't see what you have there well enough but there are two good approaches given the "hole."

If you can (I can't see the elevations of the existing trim), trim the triangular "drawer front" so the trim is attached to the drawer front, and laps over the existing trim when the drawer is closed. Since you have the whole triangle to work with, the added trim won't tend to look out of place.

If the drawer front can be recessed in the existing trim, you're pretty much good to go -- just make sure you have a very close fit of the drawer front.

My dad used to make stuff like that when we were kids. Each kid's room had some secret compartments, some with compartments in compartments. It was pretty cool.

(post #101074, reply #4 of 32)

I'm guessing here, but I suspect he means the type of latch used a lot on stereo systems with glass doors. There is a plunger with a magnet on the end that mounts on the inside of the case. The door has a small metal plate. The plunger clicks into place when the door is pushed closed. Then you push on the door again and the plunger comes forward to open the door a little, so that you can get your fingers behind it. Then you just pull it open.

Most woodworking supply places will have them. Used a lot with cabinet doors.

(post #101074, reply #17 of 32)

Oh, for some reason I thought it was a door you wanted not a drawer. In that case, a drawer is even easier.

You know, this thread just jogged my memory to a farmhouse which I owned and lived in for several years. There was a little guest cottage, about 800 sf, on the property which I gutted and redid and I put this really great hiding space behind a panel under the stairs just like you want to do. I don't think I ever told the guy I sold the house to about it. Damn! I don't even remember if I had hidden anything there. Double damn!

(post #101074, reply #8 of 32)

The most secure approach would be to have a latch that is activated from somewhere else -- adjacent room/closet, basement below, or maybe a small hole in the upper edge of a riser. This can be as simple as a sliding rod, or adapt something like desk hardware. (Actually, a cable-type hood release might be the ticket.)

For an easily accessible latch, either a push/push latch or the sort of magnetic latch where you have to place a separate magnet over a "hot" spot on the door would be the way to go.

Rockler has a good selection of latches.

Keep in mind that if the area is frequently accessed fingerprints and general wear will tend to reveal the secret. Also, the slides, etc, will tend to get out of alignment over time (and possibly even in response to seasonal changes). So design the area so that the paint scheme, trim, etc are tolerant of this.

(In this regard a door and separate drawer is probably preferred over a drawer with front. It's a lot harder to keep a drawer aligned than a door.)

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(post #101074, reply #9 of 32)

I just happen to be reading Sarah Susanka's "Not so Big House" this past week. She's got a photo in there of understair storage. It was like this situation but 3 raised panels under the stairs - like sloped wainscotting. The middle one was essentiall a tall drawer front with heavy duty slides. If you're near a library pick it up and take a look. Was real slick looking and seemed like it could be made to be fully hidden pretty easily.

The idea of raised panels all the way really hid it well, but it might be a lot of work for you.

(post #101074, reply #10 of 32)

I have gone one step further. When pouring the foundation stem walls, I pour four walls under the stairs, by installing a trap door, there would be a secure place under the house When pouring slabs, I insert a form to allow easy breakout of the slab for future breakout to install a floorsafe, etc.

(post #101074, reply #11 of 32)

Reframe the opening more to the left and rectangular. Then put a drawer on full extension slides and mount a drawer front that fills the opening, like a pull out for recyclebles. then just mount a piece of artwork to the front of the drawer and the overlap will hide the opening. Pull it open to get what is there. You can add additional pivoiting and slide out shelves which you can find in kitchen cabinet hardware catalogs if you want to utilize more of the space.

(post #101074, reply #16 of 32)

Lee Valley has a catch where a magnet, when put over the latch (behind the panel) opens the latch. The magnet is housed in a pull. So, just put the pull on the right spot (you have to remember where) and pull. check out www.leevalley.com It's called a magnetic secret latch item #12k80.01

(post #101074, reply #23 of 32)

A version of those magnetic catches from Lee Valley was in the child safety section at Lowe's. They were clearance priced at the time, but I think they still have some on the shelves. I think I picked them up about a month ago.

(post #101074, reply #18 of 32)

I once built a revolving set of shelves like you see in the old whodunnit movies that led into a tiny hidden back room which had a way out of the back of the house. The guy had bucks and was a bit of an eccentric. I never asked where the money came from, but it was fun doing.

(post #101074, reply #19 of 32)

Great tips, folks! I'll look at Rockler and Lee Valley for some hardware options. I'll also take a look at the Not So Big book as well at the library.

Really, no dead bodies...likely. Of corpse, one never knows when he'll need to repurpose such a space!

Seriously, it's more of a concealed space than a security area. I'm less concerned with how difficult it'll be to open than just having it hidden from plain sight. I'll be sure to post some updates once I start building it...